Respected MMA journalist John Morgan believes the Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor fight has reached Superbowl levels in terms of national interest.
Thousands of fight fans have invaded Las Vegas this past week to take in the 'The Money Fight' circus between combat sports' two biggest superstars.
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Mr Morgan, a Sin City resident, said he has never seen anything like it in his veteran reporting career.
"It's big, it's got everybody talking," Mr Morgan told Newshub.
"I think it's the biggest sporting event of the year. It's incredible.
"The interest in this is Superbowl level, this has everybody talking about it, everybody wanting to see it, everybody wanting to know what's going on.
"Normally you've just got the sports fans that are talking about it but this is everybody... the grocery store, the hairstylist, wherever you go people want to talk about this fight.
"This is big-time."
As far as the result of the fight goes, Mr Morgan believes boxing pundits who have written off the Irishman's boxing ability may be left with egg on their face.
While not going as far as predicting a McGregor victory, Mr Morgan said a majority of the boxing world have their blindfolds on.
"It doesn't really make any sense. The guy has been striking with his hands his whole life.
"Purists will point to the difference in the styles as proof that it's not refined, but that's not true - it's just that they've learned a different set of techniques because it works better in MMA
However Mr Morgan agreed that the safe money is on the undefeated boxing great.
"You talk to most people and they feel pretty comfortable saying that Mayweather is the right pick and I think that's true it just makes sense.
"This is his sport, he's one of the best to ever do it."
Mr Morgan added, "It's pretty shocking that the odds are as close as they are. I think it's really just the fact that people want to take a chance on Conor.
"You spend time listening to him and you start to believe him after a while, he believes in himself so much it's hard not to believe in him as well.
"The big bets, the huge wagers, those are all in coming in on Mayweather - that's where the smart money lies."
If McGregor can pull off an unlikely victory, Mr Morgan thinks it would shock the sporting world.
"I don't see how you can't call it the biggest upset in sports history, a guy crossing over into another sport?
"Yes there are similarities between the two, it's not like he's jumped on a NBA team or anything like that.
"It's already a win for CM to be in this position, the money that he's gaining is life-changing.
"If he could pull it off I do think it would be the greatest upset in sports history. It would be something pretty incredible."
Newshub.
